6 Comments | Add

 

Rate & Share:

 

Related Links:

 

Info:

• Series: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

NEW MOON Set for Next Thanksgiving

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) in Summit Entertainment's TWILIGHT(2008).
© Summit Entertainment

Looking to replicate the box office success that Twilight has enjoyed after debuting over Thanksgiving, Summit Entertainment plans to release their sequel New Moon on Nov. 20, 2009. The move has the trades suggesting this could be the new franchise associated with the holiday as Warner Bros. has shifted the Harry Potter films to summer with only of the three left bowing in November 2010.

Summit caught a lucky break when Warners decided to push back the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" from Thanksgiving 2008 to summer 2009. Through Sunday's box office report, the first vampire tale's domestic cume was $150 million in its fourth week.

Also slated to open on Nov. 20, 2009, are Warners' "Sherlock Holmes," Sony toon "Planet 51" and MGM's untitled "Three Stooges" project.

Chris Weitz recently signed on to direct the sequel after Hardwicke was taken off the project. In a move to calm fans about the change of direction, author Stephenie Meyer has updated her official blog with a letter to the fans from the new director.

Hey guys,

There's been a lot of worry and speculation on the boards lately, and I want to let you know what's going on.

First of all, like you, I'm sad that Catherine is not continuing on with us for New Moon. I'm going to miss her, not just as a brilliant director, but also as a friend. She has such a distinct, authentic voice that did amazing things for Twilight. I'm looking forward to every movie she does in the future.

And she didn't leave us empty handed. We still get the benefits of her amazing casting and the beautiful visual world she created. This foundation puts us in a good place for New Moon.

Summit Films is moving forward with a new director for New Moon. They've asked Chris Weitz, director of American Pie, About a Boy, and The Golden Compass, to join us, and I am very pleased to announce that he's agreed to be a part of our Twilight world. I've had the chance to talk to Chris, and I can tell you that he is excited by the story and eager to keep the movie as close to the book as possible. He is also very aware of you, the fans, and wants to keep you all extremely happy. (Torches and pitchforks are not going to be necessary.)

I'm excited to work with Chris and I think he brings a lot to the table, not the least of which for me is that he wrote the screenplay for and directed one of my favorite movies of all time, About a Boy. I'm really looking forward to seeing his vision for New Moon.

Below is a letter from Chris to you. I think you'll get a glimpse in this note of how cool it's going to be having Chris as part of our community.

To read Weitz's letter to the fans, click here.